In Bihar, after the split of 17 year old BJP and JD(U) alliance, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today comfortably won the Vote of Confidence in a special session of the State Assembly.

AIR Correspondent reports that a total of 126 votes, including 4 of Congress, 1 of CPI and 4 of independents were cast in favour of the trust motion, while 24, including 22 of RJD and 2 independents voted against the motion. Former alliance partner and new Opposition in Assembly, the BJP, walked out from trust vote after accusing Nitish Kumar of betraying the people's mandate.

In his speech in the Assembly, Nitish Kumar said without taking the name of Narendra Modi, that the main reason for breaking the alliance with BJP was the elevation of the Gujarat chief minister in his party. After winning the vote of confidence, Mr Nitish Kumar talked to media persons and thanked the congress party for voting in favour of the trust motion. The BJP MLAs shouted slogans against chief minister Nitish Kumar and in favour of Narendra Modi before trooping out of the house.

Going by numbers there was no threat to the Nitish Kumar government as it had the required strength. In the 243 member state assembly JD(U) has 118 members, including Speaker, while the BJP has 91 members. There are 6 independent while the congress has 4 members.